The Supreme Court on Thursday urged the Union government to reconsider its policy of introducing a third language at the Class 9 level, citing the immense academic pressure students face as they prepare for the crucial Class 10 board examinations.
During a hearing concerning Tamil Nadu's appeal against a Madras High Court order, Justice B.V. Nagarathna questioned the rationale behind introducing a new language curriculum so late in a student's academic journey. She described the current timing as “very bad,” emphasizing that students are already under significant stress from the end of Class 8 onwards.
Early Introduction Recommended
Justice Nagarathna strongly advocated for an earlier introduction of the third language, ideally from the middle-school level, such as Class 6. “Ninth standard is stressful. Why do you introduce a new language in 9th? You introduce it in 6th,” she remarked, recalling her own school experience from the 1970s when students began learning a third language much earlier.
She noted that in her time, Class 10 concepts were introduced as early as Class 8, highlighting the need for ample preparation time for board exams. “The earlier, the better,” Justice Nagarathna added, urging the Centre and examination boards like CBSE and ICSE to implement this change.
NEP and Language Policy
The court also clarified that the National Education Policy (NEP) does not mandate Hindi as the compulsory third language. Justice Nagarathna observed that the policy simply requires the state language, English, and “any third language,” without specifying Hindi. Counsel for a respondent NGO further affirmed that the NEP prohibits imposing any language on a state.
In a related discussion, the bench advised the Tamil Nadu government not to oppose central education policies, such as the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, solely because they originate from the Union government. The court noted that discussions between the Centre and Tamil Nadu regarding these schools are ongoing, and a resolution should be sought through dialogue.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter for further hearing on August 11.